Amit Shah invites Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to join NDA

Vicki Perkins

The decision to remove Sharad Yadav from the party post has been communicated to Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu.Yadav, along with Ansari, has expressed differences with party chief Nitish Kumar's decision to snap ties with the Congress and RJD and form government with BJP's support.

BJP chief Amit Shah has invited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to rejoin the NDA. Asked if the party will join the Modi cabinet, a JD (U) leader said such a decision would be natural. "Yadav is a soul fighter and I am unable to understand the reason behind his dissention, because the Chief Minister has categorically said that all decisions have been taken after due consultation and with the consent of all the party members", BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI. The RJD chief said that he was accused of speaking to Sahabuddin, a tainted politician, but at the same time, there is no issue on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is speaking to Anant Singh, another tainted politician from Bihar. "Sharad Yadav has been addressing RJD workers on his state tour, but not one JD (U) MLA is with him, not one JD (U) district chief with them", claimed Tyagi.

While Nitish confidants are sure that Yadav will avoid the August 19 meeting, his future course of action remains to be seen.Also, talks have been doing rounds that to bolster Nitish's stature in Bihar for future elections, he may be made the convenor or co-convenor of NDA, a position once enjoyed by George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav himself.

Earlier on Thursday, Yadav had said that the split in the Grand Alliance had really hurt him. Speculations are rife that Yadav might join hands with bete noir-turned-ally Lalu Prasad, by either splitting JD (U) or forming his own party.

The JD (U) on Friday suspended Ali Anwar Ansari, its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, for "anti-party activities". "He has just been replaced with RCP Singh [as party leader in the Rajya Sabha]".

He added that this was not personal fight against Nitish Kumar but a fight of principles and to save democracy and brotherhood.

The JD (U) at its August 19 National Executive Committee meeting is likely to formally join the NDA.